I've been looking forward to our local gun show, and today I dropped in after breakfast. Wanders around, light attendance, a few empty tables, but still, not a bad turn out. Maybe I'm getting a little jaded, but I just didn't see much that caught my attention.

Then... There was an older gentleman who was selling coins, and paper money from all over the world, and military decorations, and whatnot. On top of a pile of older paper money, I spotted a pre-Russian revolution 500 ruble note. As some of you know, Russia is one of my interests.

1912 issue. Worn condition, but for me attractive!! So I asked him how much he wanted for it..."how about four dollars??"...

Well, that seemed pretty fair, so I bought it.





I'll display it in my office along with much of my other Russian artifacts. Thinking about the history of this piece of paper, which has survived the Russian Revolution, WWI, WWII, Lenin, Stalin, the Cold War, and who can say what else, one of the least expensive pieces of history that I've come across!!

I also looked at, and might buy tomorrow, a couple of boxes of .38 Long Colt Ammo, pretty hard to find. I can use it for my Colt 1877 "Lightning"...which I have never shot.

Oh yeah, the irony is that I had a little windfall last week, and had a pocket full of cash that I could have spent without feeling guilty. And nothing much appealed to me. Lots of plastic pistols, a few common Smiths, nothing spectacular, though...a few Colts, one guy had a nice, but run if the mill Detective Special that he had priced at over a thousand!!

On the way out, I saw one of the Italian M1 Carbine bayonets that have been on the surplus market for the last year or so, and succumbed to the temptation to buy it for $40.

I may stop back in tomorrow and take another stroll through. No extra charge for the second day.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I would think that 500 Rubbles was a pretty good chunk of change before WWI. I assume it fled the revolution in some woman's corset!

Ivan (and no, I'm not Russian.)

Well, that got me thinking. According to one source, 500 1912 rubles at that time would buy 385 grams of gold. And 385 grams of gold in today's market would cost 871,580 of today's rubles. And 871,580 of today's rubles is the equivalent of $13,095 in 2018 American Dollars!! And I paid $4.00!!!

So I guess I made a pretty good bargain!! (If the Czars ever regain the Russian throne!!).

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

So, whose pictures are on it? Peter the Great? Catherine the Great?

BTW, have you got any S&W .44 Russian revolvers, or Tula or German copies?

I'll give you 5 Deutsche Marks for it.

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Dum vivo cano

Good question, T-S. Although Nicholas II was Tsar from 1894 until 1917, and thus was on the throne when this note was issued, that picture looks like Peter the Great (Пётр Ве****************к****************) 1672-1725. I just don't know about the female figure, I would speculate that she may be purely allegorical, something like the "Blind Justice" statues atop most of our courthouses and othe public buildings...but you may be correct, that could be Catherine.

I have a few Russian guns from before the Revolution, and a number from after. No .44 S&W, though. One of my favorites is a sword with Imperial markings, and another with early 1917 Soviet markings. I'll see if I can find a photo somewhere.

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Les,
Were you at the Moundsvile or Fairmont show?
I’m thinking about going to Fairmont tomorrow.

Fairmont. At the new Armory. Nice facility. With my emailed coupon, which I just showed on my iPhone, only $5 to get in, and good for both days.

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

When I heard that there was an Indian Chief on old U.S. Currency I thought about getting one.



It is a very dignified image, but unfortunately it shows Running Antelope as a chief wearing a Pawnee head dress because his Sioux head dress was too tall for the engraving.


The nice ones cost $500-$800

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....so thenn How many Euros would that be?

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Real men love cats!

Went back to the show today and picked up a box of the .38 Long Colt ammo. Still not many folks in attendance.

A friend of mine had a beautiful 98% Colt .38 Spl. Police Positive Special for $475, no tax, no paperwork... he is not an FFL. From about 1923. I would have bought it, but I already have its twin brother.

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Sounds like a heck of a deal for such a rare caliber!

That is Peter the Great according to all the paintings I saw of him. I'm inclined to an "allegorical figure" for the female figure.

I understand the 1912 500 ruble bank note was the largest(in size) in the World.


Any Nagant revolver? How about a picture?

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Expect the unexpected

Les you are a man of many interests.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

Well, I was typing on my iPhone, which I can hardly see...no, it was the much more common .38, not the rare .39!!!! lol, thanks for setting me straight!!

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Good Grief!! I just found a YouTube video showing a closer look at the 500 p. Note:


There must be videos of almost everything!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064